What are the most effective safety performance metrics for reducing workplace accidents?

1 Lagging and leading indicators

One of the most common ways to classify safety performance metrics is based on whether they are lagging or leading indicators. Lagging indicators measure the results of safety activities, such as the number, frequency, and severity of accidents, injuries, and illnesses. They are useful for tracking trends and benchmarking performance, but they do not provide much insight into the causes or prevention of incidents. Leading indicators measure the inputs and processes of safety activities, such as the level of hazard identification, risk assessment, training, inspection, and engagement. They are useful for predicting and influencing future performance, but they do not capture the actual outcomes or impacts of safety interventions.

2 Balanced scorecard approach

A balanced scorecard approach is a strategic framework that combines both lagging and leading indicators to provide a comprehensive and holistic view of safety performance. It helps align safety goals with organizational objectives, communicate expectations and feedback, and drive continuous improvement. A balanced scorecard typically consists of four perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth. Each perspective has a set of objectives, measures, targets, and initiatives that are linked to the overall vision and strategy of the organization. For example, a financial perspective may include the cost of accidents, insurance premiums, and productivity losses; a customer perspective may include the satisfaction, loyalty, and retention of employees, clients, and stakeholders; an internal process perspective may include the compliance, quality, and efficiency of safety procedures and systems; and a learning and growth perspective may include the skills, knowledge, and culture of safety among workers and managers.

3 SMART criteria

Another way to ensure that safety performance metrics are effective is to apply the SMART criteria, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. These criteria help define and evaluate the quality and usefulness of safety performance metrics. Specific metrics are clear, precise, and unambiguous; measurable metrics are quantifiable, verifiable, and comparable; achievable metrics are realistic, attainable, and challenging; relevant metrics are aligned with safety goals, objectives, and priorities; and timely metrics are timely, frequent, and consistent. For example, a SMART safety performance metric could be to reduce the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) by 10% in the next 12 months, by conducting monthly safety audits, providing regular training and feedback, and implementing corrective actions.

4 Benchmarking and feedback

Finally, one of the most effective ways to use safety performance metrics is to compare them with internal and external benchmarks, and to provide feedback to workers and managers. Benchmarking is the process of comparing safety performance metrics with those of similar organizations, industries, or standards, to identify gaps, best practices, and opportunities for improvement. Feedback is the process of communicating safety performance metrics to workers and managers, to recognize achievements, highlight areas for improvement, and motivate action. Benchmarking and feedback help create a culture of safety that fosters learning, accountability, and excellence.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?